Big 12 Champions For Life Campaign Enters Second Year Highlighting Impact Of Scholarships For Student-Athletes

IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–When the Big 12 opens its first full weekend of conference games this
week it will do so against a backdrop of inspiring student-athlete
features as part of its “Big 12 Champions for Life” campaign.

In its second year, the initiative showcases the success stories of
student-athletes and how an athletic scholarship has positively impacted
their lives. This year’s campaign kicks-off on Thursday, September 29,
with a series of features highlighting the stories of individual
student-athletes from every Big 12 school. The spots will air during
each Big 12 football telecast this weekend, and will run in-stadium as
well as on Big 12 digital and social media platforms throughout the
season. In addition, each 30-second feature, along with longer versions
of the student-athletes’ stories, and other academic information will
appear on Big12ChampionsforLife.com.

Last year the campaign featured 125 student-athletes across an array of
sports, and focused on stories of leadership, community service and
obstacles overcome in the pursuit of higher education. This year, more
than 150 student-athletes will be profiled, sharing his or her story of
how an athletic scholarship has changed his or her life for the better.
Both current and former student athletes are highlighted in the campaign
that will run throughout the academic year.

“We have tremendous student-athletes with incredible stories to tell –
from those who have overcome homelessness to becoming a first
responder,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “Their contributions
made on and off the fields of play make them positive role models for
their classmates, friends, family, and our communities. We are proud to
have them serve as ambassadors as to what it truly means to be a Big 12
student-athlete.”

The student-athletes featured opening weekend include:

Chelsea Whitaker (basketball), Baylor alumna

Kamari Cotton-Moya (football), Iowa State

Keon Stowers (football), Kansas alumnus

Erica Young (basketball), Kansas State

Samaje Perine (football), Oklahoma

Vincent Taylor (football), Oklahoma State

Caylin Moore (football), TCU

Octavious Bishop (football), Texas alumnus

Justin Stockton (football), Texas Tech

Skyler Howard (football), West Virginia

For more information, visit Big12ChampionsforLife.com,
Facebook.com/big12champ4life and follow the campaign on Twitter
(@Big12Champ4Life).